Thaindian News

London, Feb 18 (IANS) Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas says he will sell the under-performing players this summer after some senior stars questioned his strategy and training methods at a stormy team meeting earlier in the week.

The club’s Russian owner Roman Abramovich met the players and the coaching staff at the Cobham training ground after a lacklustre 0-2 loss away at Everton in the English Premier League.

“Two players have already left and there will be further departures in the future. Contacts will have to be addressed and changes will be made,” Villas-Boas was quoted as saying by The Sun.

“We have to defend the Chelsea badge, because they don’t pay us to be a failure and everybody understands the demands to be successful at this club,” he said.

“You don’t contemplate rewarding people who under-perform in any football team and our objective now is to get the best possible position in the Premier League and continue to fight for two trophies.”

Villas-Boas, who took Portuguese club FC Porto to UEFA Europa League trophy last season, came under heavy criticism from some of his senior players. They are said to have questioned his training methods.

“If the players want to be part of this club’s future, they have to support the project with their performance. If some of them don’t support me, that’s normal,” said the coach.

Chelsea are still in with a chance to win two trophies. The London club play Italian outfit Napoli in the last-16 of the Champions League while they face a stern test against Birmingham City in the fifth round of the FA Cup.